Progress on the national commitments derived from the Ministerial
Declaration “Preventing through Education”: follow-up actions in Mexico, August
2008- December 2009

1National Center for AIDS Prevention and Control (CENSIDA), Director General, Mexico City, Mexico, 2National Center for AIDS Prevention and Control (CENSIDA), Director of Prevention and Social Participation, Mexico City, Mexico, 3National Center for AIDS Prevention and Control (CENSIDA), Directorate of Prevention and Social Participation, Mexico City, Mexico

Issues: On August 1st, 2008, Ministries of
Health and Ministries of Education of 31 Latin American and the Caribbean countries approved the Ministerial Declaration
“Preventing through Education. Description: The Ministry of Health of Mexico
established a management group, to activities related to the Declaration.
A Work-group on Comprehensive Sex
Education was established in the Prevention Committee of the National HIV/AIDS
Council. This group considers the participation of Ministries, NGO, UN, academia.
The National Norm for School Health Promotion was modified by calling MoH and
MoE to develop joint annual plans. MoH in collaboration with MoE developed the
National Health Card for population 10-19 years old. This Card includes a
chapter on sexual and reproductive health to monitor access to goods and
services for adolescents and youth. In addition, 13,456 training sessions were
offered to health workers and teachers in service and 2,820 for those in pre-service
stages. The National HIV/AIDS Center developed,
in collaboration with regional experts, a Glossary of comprehensive sex
education and HIV terminology in Spanish. MoH and MoEd developed a Guide Book
for teachers of the School and Health Program, including comprehensive sex
health issues. Sexual and Reproductive Friendly Health Services were evaluated and
174 were unsubscribed (bad quality standards). Seven Ambulatory Health Services
for HIV were created. Lessons learned: International frameworks based on scientific
evidence, contribute to strength and develop joint health and education
policies and strategies focused on HIV prevention. Since the Declaration was
approved, relations and planning processes between MoH and MoE have been
improved in order to strength joint strategies for other health issues like
HIN1-epidemic, obesity.Next steps: a) health and education programs must be evaluated and
updated, b) a national M&E system for this initiative, c) definition of
Friendly services, d) diffusion at local levels and legislators.